The Campaign

Early sport specialization is characterized by a high volume of deliberate practice and a low amount of deliberate play in one sport, and focuses on performance as early as age six or seven.*

Early sport specialization is on the rise in youth sport, and it’s a disturbing trend. Many parents of young kids (i.e. 12 and under) genuinely believe that more is better, that they are giving their child an edge by narrowing in on one sport, or even that it is a matter of competitive survival.

The reality, however, is very different. Studies consistently document the dangers. Dangers to the child’s overall development, danger in terms of injury to growing bodies, and danger from burnout. Unfortunately, these facts are not broadly known and parents are often pushed in the wrong direction. Often the push comes in the form of peer pressure from other sport parents or coaches who are equally uninformed or, worse, from private companies who profit from the hype.

Enter Get More From Sport, an education campaign developed by Hockey Nova Scotia and Soccer Nova Scotia, with support from Sport Nova Scotia, to promote multi-sport play. The goal of the campaign is for every parent of an athlete aged 12 or under to visit this site, as you now have. See the evidence and read the facts. Take the test. Hear from sporting greats. See the movement. From there, parents will have the information to make the best decisions for their growing athletes. Hopefully, the grown-ups will worry less about the score, or the level, or “getting ahead,” and simply foster a love of sport that keeps children active for life.

*Dr. Jean Cote. ISSP Position Stand: To Sample or to Specialize? Seven Postulates about Youth Sport Activities that Lead to Continued Participation and Elite Performance. Queen’s University, 2009.

"Sports used to be about children competing against other children. Now, all too often it is about adults competing against other adults through their children. The 'Get More From Sport' campaign is spot on, and it is critical that this message reach every family of every aspiring young athlete. We are proud to partner with them to help spread this message: stop the early sport specialization!"

- John O'SullivanFounder, Changing the Game Project

"The rush for early specialization and later generalization flies in the face of the established expert opinion and evidence and, of course, goes completely against what parents understand and demand for their children’s academic education - namely the study of many subjects, especially the foundation subjects, during the first 10 years or so of school and then gradual later specialization. Strange then that parents (and some coaches) want to break all the rules in some misguided rush towards excellence, which, of course, simply becomes a rush to mediocrity and disappointment … and worse, the disillusionment and eventual dropout of their kids!”

"The number one reason kids play sport is to have fun. Unfortunately when kids are pushed to specialize too early in just one sport, the fun goes away. All parents should know that a multisport experience early in life promotes children to be physically active for life and possibly thrive in one chosen sport later in life."

- Richard MonetteLead of the Active for Life initiative

"I owe much of my success as a hockey player to being a multi-sport athlete when I was younger. It wasn’t until I was 17 years old that hockey became my sole focus athletically. By playing soccer, softball, track & field, etc. I was able to become a well rounded athlete and develop important functional movements as well as special skills that not only allow me to be the best hockey player I can be, but the best athlete as well."

- Blayre TurnbullStellarton, NS. Team Canada National Women’s Team Player

"It’s really important for kids to play as many sports as they can as a youth. I truly believe that most of my skill and attributes I carry now originally developed from being involved in other sports as a kid. Every chance I get I tell parents 'please don’t take your kids out of anything too young!!!!' They will burn out big time."

- Jillian SaulnierHalifax, Nova Scotia. Team Canada National Women’s Team Player

"I believe that all too often, parents of High Performance athletes believe that the proven negatives (physical & psychological) of early sport specialization don’t apply to them. In reality coaches at the High Performance level prefer the athleticism that comes with being a multi-sport athlete. I strongly believe that parents should educate themselves and do what is best for their child instead of succumb to the misconception that the road to success is to live and breathe one sport.”

“It is so important to me to have my time away from hockey. Obviously, hockey is my passion; I love it. But definitely for me, time away from the rink and time when my mind isn’t thinking about hockey is important. "

- Sidney CrosbyPittsburgh Penguins

“Hockey was a wintertime thing in Norway. As soon as the weather got warm, we would forget about it completely. Our days were filled with games of soccer, floorball and handball. I think those other sports helped me become the athlete I am today. The kick-pass is an underrated skill; a lot of battles along the boards are won with crafty feet — don’t forget that.”

- Mats Zuccarello New York Rangers

"My advice to any coach or parent of an athlete is to keep them active in as many sports as possible for as long as possible. I’ve seen it time and time again; this is what creates the best athletes - and the best people."

"It's well known through research that there are a number of concerns when it comes to early specialization in a specific sport... If you play only one particular sport, there's a less developed overall base in the body which can lead to physical breakdowns as the athlete gets older. Mental burnout is also a big problem.”